Posted on 09/25/2013 8:27:57 PM PDT by WXRGina
Reuters and other news agencies are reporting that the Pope has capitulated on several issues such as homosexuality, abortion and contraception.
The Pope’s remarks were taken from a 12,000 word interview with the Jesuit periodical, Civilta Cattolica, (Catholic Civilization) the most prominent statement reaching news agencies is his declaration that the church needs to shake off its obsession with abortion and homosexuality.
The Pope has pleased the liberal factions of the Catholic Church and sickened and worried the conservative members of the church.
Few have reported on the prophetic implications of the Pope’s remarks and with some exceptions, such as those made by Evangelist Bill Keller, most protestant news outlets remain free of op-eds or theological treatment of the Pope’s interview, at the moment.
Biblical Theology and Catholic Teachings – Always at Odds
Hundreds of traditional or patristic teachings of Catholicism are either in direct conflict with the bible or do not exist in the scriptures at all.
The list of theological discrepancies has been addressed repeatedly for centuries and there would be little room to cover them all in one short article.
What we must point out is that on two very important levels, those who stand on scripture can’t ever recognize the authority of the Pope – it has never been a matter of whether they like him or not, nor is it a matter of personal choosing.
First, Because of the Greek rendering of Matthew 16: 18, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Protestants believe that Christ was referring to himself as the Rock, not Peter. This is supported by other scriptural passages, to wit:
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (Mt 16: 18b)
Secondly, not one word in the bible speaks of ‘apostolic succession.’ It is a concoction of the Roman church, not a biblical teaching. It is very difficult even to support the teaching in view of the fact that there was no Catholic church for over 300 years after Christ came into the world. Most Catholics are totally unaware of this fact. They have been told they are the ‘first church,’ but true history betrays them.
Simply because these facts cannot keep the childlike faith of any Catholic from reaching the Savior does not justify or verify the truth of Catholicism’s origins. It is simply a matter of Catholics being saved or redeemed not because of their religion – but in spite of it!
The Real and Present Danger in the Discrepancies between the Papacy and the Bible
Gentle, but firm, is the only way to approach addressing the errors of Catholicism at the same time knowing that millions of Catholics are of the family of faith simply because Jesus said “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (Jn 6: 37)
Yet, it is more than an item of curiosity or some minor theological difference; it is a dire sense of urgency and concern, especially in the last days, that causes anyone who knows scripture to make fair warning.
I have repeated this warning so often that I think my publishers may think I’ve run out of new things to say. I’ll take that chance, as opposed to risking a confrontation with my Savior for not making it as abundantly clear as possible, while there is still time.
What warning you ask!
Any religion, Catholic or other, that derives its ultimate authority from a man is subject to heresy, apostasy and error depending on the personality, the current state of mind or the evolvement of personal ideologies in that man.
Faith based solely on the scriptures, the written accounts of Christ’s teaching and his Apostles and biblical prophets cannot be altered, changed or disputed until the very last day of time. God intended this; it is his way of grounding us on a rock instead of the sinking sands of a changing and unstable world, to wit:
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Mt 7: 24, 25)
Christ relegated his authority to his Apostles and their teachings too are on the same level as his. They were not mere scribes or interpreters of his will they were Holy Spirit inspired and authorized to speak as final authorities.
“He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.” (Lk 10: 16)
Finally, since we will not be judged by what other men say – why would we waste time or risk being found in total error. Why not go to the source of truth and take Christ’s warning seriously?
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (Jn 12: 48)
So what did the Apostles really say about abortion, homosexuality and issues of the day?
The prophetic part of the bible contradicts the Pope’s assertion that believers are obsessed with homosexuality and abortion. In fact it warns that in the last days it is possession (demonic) that will fuel the slide into apostasy the world over.
Political correctness, floundering Pontiff’s and general acceptance of everything the bible condemns, is proof immutable, that the NWO, apostasy and the emergence of the Antichrist are well on track for the very near future. ‘Just don’t talk about it’ is the advice of fools. If the only choices are between obsession and possession it’s pretty much a no brainer.
Not only is homosexuality referred to as an abomination, to be noted, rebuked and refused as part of the church, but immoral behaviors were cause for people to be put out of the church and not allowed back in until they had fully repented. (1Co 5: 1-7) Should the perversion of same sex acts and marriage be an exception?
The idea of the Pope suggesting that we are over-talking the subject of abortions reaches to the heights of apostasy. The only voices the over two hundred million aborted babies worldwide have - is ours. Telling us to be silent is the moral equivalent of blasphemy.
After the Sandy Hook massacre of innocent children the liberals went after guns with a vengeance. Doesn’t it seem hypocritical that after 60,000,000 abortions in the U.S. and 160,000,000 abortions worldwide that telling us to pipe down is the only thing the Pope can think of to say? We will never be silent, or to borrow a phrase, you can pry my anti-abortion argument from my cold dead lips, but no other way.
The Folly of Following the Fallen
Has the Pope taken his first steps into the last day’s (apostasy) falling away? We can only hope he has not, but if this is the beginning of it, it is also the end of everything as we have known it.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” (2 Th 2: 3)
Yes, but used nevertheless to divert from the Truth about God and His church.
Common tactic by Catholics, use unnecessary meaningless straw man arguments to bolster belief in Catholicism. Following the tactics of the Catholic "Church Fathers."
Catholicism is the reason that there is a need for denominations....there is Catholicism and the revolters against her need names....thus denominations....simple as thatThe Christian church that Jesus started is the church of Christians.
Soon after He started His church, the Catholics became the first denomination of Christianity.
By retroactively declaring all Christians of the church that Jesus started to be "Catholics"---about 300 years after Jesus walked the earth.
So the Catholic Church was the first denomination to revolt against Christianity--by in esscence putting themselves as the "Church" instead of the Christians believers of the time being the real Christian church.
I have spent many dozens of hours attempting to teach you the milk of the Scriptures, yet it seems you are not ready for the meat that believers usually graduate too.
I have no problem with you believing in all that is Catholicism, but don't expect Christians to capitulate to their belief system.
May God bless you as your read the Scriptures after sincerely praying for the Holy Spirit to guide you into all understanding.
"I interpret NOTHING...I leave that up to the church leaders who have been doing it for 2,000+ years"
WXRGina, that pretty much clears up a lot.
Christians allow ONLY the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture, Catholics use men.
So... which one is closer to what I said I thought the Pope meant ?
no He didn't, He gave the keys to the kingdom of Heaven to Peter to proclaim that he would be titular head of His church after He had left the Earth....we all have the promise of Heaven, but we certainly don't have the keys and far too many of us refuse the heavenly gift and choose to disobey the rules and live lives that are not acceptable to God.....no Heaven there
“When we give or receive Christmas gifts; or hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs...the god, Woden, in Norse Mythology, descends upon the earth yearly between December 25th and January 6th to bless mankind...But pagan though they be, they are beautiful customs. They help inspire us with the spirit of 'good will to men', even as the sublime service of our Church reminds us of the ‘peace on earth’ which the babe of Bethlehem came to bestow” (Externals of the Catholic Church, 140).
The 3 wise men brought gifts to the manger for baby Jesus.
This is where the gift-giving of Christmas comes from.
The tree, wreath and crap I can live without.
Hmmm, still no credit to the Jews ey?
I guess that explains all the jokes that begin with, "A guy died and St. Peter met him at the pearly gates of heaven...". ;o)
In truth, though, Jesus gave ALL His disciples the "keys to the kingdom of heaven" which is the gospel. See John 20:21-23, and not just the one passage in Matthew that is misinterpreted to single out Peter only as the holder of the keys. Keys OPEN doors - Jesus IS the door to the sheepfold - and the gospel is the way that souls are admitted into it. That is also why the "gates of hell/hades" would not prevail. The gospel is the key to those gates, as well, and all who come to Christ will be delivered.
So, yes, we ALL also have those keys, as we minster together to proclaim the saving truth of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised for our justification. The only succession spoken of in Scripture is one of a handing down of the "rule of faith" and not a special office called "Apostle". THAT one had very specific qualifiers and is why there are no more living Apostles today. Christ is the head of the church and he will never fail us. As Christians, we have the SAME Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed on his disciples and we, also, are given the ministry of reconciling the world to God through the gospel.
Please show the scripture that teaches the celebration of Christ’s birth.
I wasn’t holding my breath. ;o)
OF COURSE we should be thankful to the Jews for writing and preserving the teachings of God up until the new testament era...without the Jews and their historical and religious records, we would know nothing of how religious history developed....the Catholics took over from there...the Jews still continue with their writings as they had before, but they deny the Messiah....Christians recognize the Messiah and while we continue to honor and respect the old testament, we are now continueing to write the new testament. Bible history goes on and it always will....it didn't stop with Jesus, it continues so we can understand God's workings in the modern world...we know about the revolution, we know about Vatican councils, we know about dogmas added as time went by, and we will know a thousand years from now what the church did during those years.
Thank you for the confirmation of my statement.
Understanding the meat of the Scriptures is a big step!
Bible history does NOT continue on. It ceased with the writing of the Holy Spirit through John with the Book of Revelation. You may THINK what you are receiving is “Bible history”, but...
Christians allow ONLY the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture, Catholics use men.
I thought the same thing, Syncro.
you mention something about 300 years...in the first 300 years of Christianity, the Catholic Church, (the only Christian church at the time) had 29 Popes...Peter, Linus, Cletus, Clement, Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Thesphorus, Hyginus,Pius I, Anicletus, Sofer, Eleutherius, VictorI, Zephyrinus, Callistus, Urban I, Pontain, Anterus, Fabian, Cornelius, Lucius I, Stephen I, Sixtus II, Dionysius, Felix I, Eutychian, Caius, and Marcellinus 296-304....I have no idea how you missed all these guys, they are all saints.
Retroactive popes, retroactive "Catholics," there were only Christians until Catholics became a Christian denomination.
It's interesting that there was no need for denominations, all believers were Christians, until the Catholic denomination came along and "claimed" all Christians were Catholic.
Then of course other denominations sprung up to counter the denomination run by men, Catholicism.
Christians naturally balked at that idea, as they followed God, not men. (Shades of the Pharisees!)
Remember your post where you stated (quoting my post)Christians allow ONLY the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture, Catholics use men.
There were no popes for hundreds of years, MEN saying there were by rewriting history is close to blaspheme.
It appears you are not ready for the meat of the Word of God, my mistake trying to teach you Biblical Truths apparently beyond your comprehension as you repeat the same false beliefs over and over.
Except I am so glad your realize that Christians allow ONLY the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture, Catholics use men. One step at a time out of darkness into light!
such nonsense...did the old testament end with Adam and Eve??? as history goes on, so does the church...the revolution is part of the new testament, we are part of it...to suggest that it ended with Christ and the Apostles is to unwrite history...pathetic.
my post didn't print for whatever reason or another....be advised, it will!!!
Christians allow ONLY the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture, Catholics use men. (Your best post ever!)
When an errant Christian tries to go against God's will, sometimes the Holy Spirit intervenes.
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